Energy performance comparison of a high-density mixed-use building to traditional building types

Abstract

This paper applies an urban simulation tool to explore the impact of density on operational and embodied energy and carbon using parametrically-generated models. The models were created using Grasshopper and Rhinoceros 5, and the simulations were performed by the Urban Modelling Interface (UMI). A high-density mixed-use building housing 10,000 residents is compared to base cases of traditional building use types housing the same population. The retail and office space of the mixed-use building s also compared to typical local retail and office building types. Building shape, insulation levels and structural materials were also varied to analyse their affect. Results showed that of the base cases, highly insulated low-rise apartments had the best performance at 67% and 50% reductions over to-code insulated single detached homes. Of the large mixed-use building cases, they all had similar energy reductions to low rise apartments but due to utilizing concrete, their embodied energy and carbon were much higher. The timber framed versions of the mixed-use cases achieved better energy performance and cut their embodied energy and carbon by over 70%. Important results were that as buildings become much more energy efficient, the proportion of energy and emissions embodied in the materials becomes significant. Overall building form, as well as the construction material must be considered to minimize energy use and emissions.